Pauanui Trail - Stage 1

Follow the marked trail which takes you along the banks of the Tairua River - you really can't go wrong. You start by heading across the wetlands boardwalk to the boat ramp at the end of Tangitatori Lane. Continue up the trail which takes you along the foreshore around the back of the holiday homes on Tangitarori Lane, avoid trekking across the pa site (this is marked). You'll pass through the WW1 Memorial Forest, then the track splits - I usually keep left so take the more inland track on the way out and the one closest to the water on the way back. You'll follow the estuary around to the 4.5km mark which is the One Lane Bridge at Duck Creek, where currently the trail stops. Soon the trail will continue all the way to Hikuai, and eventually to Tairua, but for now turn around and head back the way you came, or take the road back if you fancy some hill work!